That Promise

Part 3

He realised he was underdressed as soon as he arrived at XianLe though, a classy nightclub with everyone wearing designer, drinking prosecco, looking like they were enjoying themselves.

He grabbed a beer and gave it a sip, telling himself, "Who fucking cares, I don't know anyone here anyway".

It's been years since Mu Qing and him went on totally different paths in that industry – Feng Xin didn't have any problem with chatting to people he didn't know, only... that crowd didn't look his type of crowd. He kept walking around, getting a few flirty looks, but, huh, just not interested.

After a while, he thought of at least looking for Mu Qing, wish him a happy birthday, and go home – he invited him after all, Feng Xin still wasn't sure why. He thought of going to the first floor to look at the party from there, maybe it'd be easier to find Mu Qing this way. To his surprise, there he was, all alone, quietly drinking prosecco by the balustrade.

He smiled and got closer, saying, "It's your birthday party and here you are, bored already?"

That would piss him off! But when Mu Qing turned around, he couldn't help but be shocked: he had guessed Mu Qing would be looking good, but well not that good. What the fuck, he looked like a model, and was dressed like one too, all in black, his hair combed back in a wet look. And his face... Feng Xin thought to himself he needed to moisturise more.

"I was entertaining all my guests for hours, but you wouldn't know, would you? You just arrived", he replied coolly, adding, "Well, thanks for coming, I guess".

Feng Xin frowned, "To be honest I thought you invited me by mistake", he said, "So I ended up deciding to come last minute – ",

Mu Qing crossed his arms, unimpressed, "Well, isn't so fucking rude not saying anything?"

Feng Xin pffted a laugh, and, lowering his voice, asked, "Why, were you missing me then?"

"You wish!", he replied, and Feng Xin felt his cheeks burning, realising he liked to tease Mu Qing.

He went on, "Your invite didn't have a RSVP, so what are you talking about?", noticing how Mu Qing silently fluttered his long lashes, beyond pissed off. Alright, enough of that, he thought.

Leaning against the glass balustrade, he casually said, "I'm glad I came though. You're looking fucking good, Mu Qing! No one would think you're actually older than me – "

Mu Qing shot him an annoyed look, "Excuse me? You're only six months younger!"

Feng Xin frowned again, pointing at Mu Qing with his beer, "Almost seven. Mu Qing, don't tell me you don't fucking know when my birthday is – "

"I do. Anyway", he replied, "There's prosecco, twelve years whisky, whatever, and you got beer?"

"So? I'm not trying to prove anything", Feng Xin replied coolly, "You know, just being myself".

Mu Qing snorted and, giving him a not-so-subtle once-over, said, "I wouldn't know. To me it looks more like you only go to birthday parties in bars".

Fuck, he knows me too well, Feng Xin thought. He winked, "But don't I look hot anyway?"

Mu Qing rolled his eyes – unsurprisingly – but Feng Xin was sure he secretly agreed. But well, that was it, he wasn't sure he could go on with that passive-aggressive conversation, it was so tiring. It's been always like that between them, what would make things different now?

He then said, in all honesty, "Well, Mu Qing, not many people get you. Since when we were kids, you've been like that: cold and aloof. We can't be described as friends, but huh I know you well, Mu Qing. I hoped in the end you wouldn't grow up to be self-absorbed and lonely".

Mu Qing remained silent, and Feng Xin went on, "Now I see you didn't, cheers". Raising his beer, he added, "Happy birthday! Wow, throwing an amazing party and getting this place full of friends – "

"They're not my friends", Mu Qing replied.

•

Fuck! Feng Xin had caught him off-guard at coming to his birthday party. With his looks to start with: he's always been a bit taller, but since when he's been this big? He must be working out, everyday, Mu Qing thought. That hair style suited him, framing his manly face, his amber eyes – they have always been amazing. He had to admit: yes, Feng Xin looked hot.

And the way he teased him and laughed, he seemed glad to have come – wait, no, he actually said it, even adding Mu Qing looked good too! He felt his face burning and gave his prosecco another sip.

Then they went on with their usual passive-aggressive thing, but when Feng Xin started being actually sweet, Mu Qing ended up... talking too much. To his credit, Feng Xin didn't laugh or ask anything stupid, as if ready to listen to Mu Qing – but if he didn't want to talk, that was fine too.

Too late now, he thought, I might as well just say it as it is – who cares what Feng Xin thinks?

He looked at Feng Xin defiantly, then looked away, "They're not my friends, they're business contacts. People who want to look good for me, for their careers' sake. Well, open bar in a trendy club, too. The company I work for is footing the bill, using my birthday as a networking event. No one in this place came for me", he concluded with a light shrug.

"I did", Feng Xin replied, in what sounded like a hurt tone.

He didn't say anything back, and Feng Xin stepped closer behind him, putting both hands on each side of the balustrade, encaging Mu Qing against it. Wait, what was he doing –

"Do you remember that promise we made at the high school graduation party?", he asked by his ear in a low voice. Mu Qing felt that warm breath on his neck, he could almost feel Feng Xin's body warmth, and his scent, he was just... too close. That question... Mu Qing nodded slowly.

Feng Xin went on, "To be honest I always put it down as a drunk thing and never thought of it again. But since the day you invited me to your 30th birthday... I've been thinking about it. Been thinking about you too: how we always messed up each other's love life, as if we couldn't let go of each other. And never getting together".

A sudden realisation hit Mu Qing: that's right, it was almost as if none of them could see the other with someone else, that... something had to happen!

Feng Xin went on, "That promise. Mu Qing, don't you think it must mean something?"

Mu Qing felt his face burning and his body tensing up, and, tilting his face back, he replied, also in a low, contained voice, "You don't know what it means?"

He could almost imagine Feng Xin smiling, and then replying, "I think I do".

He closed in slightly around Mu Qing and said, almost in a whisper, "The question is, do you want to do something about it, or...?"

What, what was going on, how did he get into that kind of conversation with Feng Xin? And the way he was kind of hugging him from behind, that was sexy: he didn't want him to let go. Fuck it, Mu Qing thought, nodding and, fluttering his lashes slightly, shot Feng Xin a glance. Let's not have any misunderstandings about it –

Feng Xin smiled, and stepped back to where he was before: on Mu Qing's side, by the balustrade.

Looking at the crowd down below, he casually said, "Good thing they're not your friends. That means nobody will notice if I take you away."

Does it sound promising? 😉

Let me know in the comments, and don't forget to vote!